Waamuzi 19
1 Katika siku hizo, wakati hakuna mfalme katika Israeli, kulikuwa na mtu, Mlawi, aliyekuwa akiishi kwa muda kidogo katika eneo la mbali zaidi ya nchi ya Efraimu. Alijichukulia mwanamke, masuria kutoka Bethlehemu huko Yuda.
And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite dwelling on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.
2 Lakini mkewe hakuwa mwaminifu kwake; akaondoka na kurudi nyumbani kwa baba yake huko Bethlehemu ya Yuda. Alikaa huko kwa muda wa miezi minne.
And his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him to her father’s house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.
3 Kisha mumewe akaondoka na kumfuata ili kumshawishi arudi. Mtumishi wake alikuwa pamoja naye, na punda wawili. Akamleta nyumbani kwa baba yake. Baba wa msichana alipomwona, alifurahi.
And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly to her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of donkeys: and she brought him into her father’s house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.
4 Baba mkwe wake, baba wa msichana, alimshawishi kukaa siku tatu. Walikula na kunywa, na walikaa usiku huko.
And his father in law, the damsel’s father, detained him; and he abode with him three days: so they ate and drank, and lodged there.
5 Siku ya nne waliamka mapema na alijiandaa kuondoka, lakini baba wa msichana akamwambia mkwewe, “Jipe nguvu na mkate kidogo, kisha unaweza kwenda.”
And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he arose to depart: and the damsel’s father said to his son in law, Strengthen thy heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward depart.
6 Basi hao wawili wakaketi kula na kunywa pamoja. Kisha baba ya msichana akasema, “Tafadhali uwe tayari kukaa usiku huu na kuwa na wakati mzuri.'
And they sat down, and ate and drank both of them together: for the damsel’s father had said to the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thy heart be merry.
7 Mlawi alipoinuka ili aondoke, baba wa mwanamke huyo alimwomba akae, hivyo alibadili mpango wake na akalala usiku tena.
And when the man rose to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.
8 Siku ya tano aliamka mapema kuondoka, lakini baba wa msichana akasema, 'Jitie nguvu mwenyewe, na kusubiri mpaka alasiri.' Kwa hiyo hao wawili wakala chakula.
And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel’s father said, Strengthen thy heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they ate both of them.
9 Mlawi na suria wake na mtumishi wake wakainuka ili kuondoka, baba mkwe wake, baba wa msichana akamwambia, “Angalia, sasa mchana unaelekea jioni. Tafadhali kaa usiku mwingine, na uwe na wakati mzuri. Unaweza kuamka kesho mapema na kurudi nyumbani.”
And when the man arose to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel’s father, said to him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day is coming to an end, lodge here, that thy heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.
10 Lakini Mlawi hakuwa tayari kukaa usiku. Aliamka na kuondoka. Akaenda kuelekea Yebusi (hiyo ni Yerusalemu). Alikuwa na pande mbili za punda-na masuria wake alikuwa pamoja naye.
But the man would not tarry that night, but he arose and departed, and came opposite Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two donkeys saddled, his concubine also was with him.
11 Walipokuwa karibu na Yebusi, siku hiyo ilikuwa imeenda mno, na mtumishi akamwambia bwana wake, Haya, tupate kwenda kwa mji wa Wayebusi, tukakae ndani yake usiku huu.
And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in to this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.
12 Bwana wake akamwambia, “Hatuwezi kwenda katika mji wa wageni ambao si wa wana wa Israeli.” Tutakwenda Gibea.
And his master said to him, We will not turn aside here into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.
13 Mlawi akamwambia yule kijana, “Njoo, twende sehemu moja wapo, na tukae usiku huko Gibea au Rama.”
And he said to his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.
14 Basi, wakaenda, na jua likachwea wakiwa karibu na Gibea, katika eneo la Benyamini.
And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.
15 Wakageuka huko ili wawezenkukaa usiku huko Gibea. Naye akaingia na kukaa katika njia kuu ya jiji, maana hakuna mtu aliyewaingiza nyumbani kwake usiku.
And they turned aside there, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodge.
16 Lakini mtu mzee alikuwa akija kutoka kazini kwake katika shamba jioni hiyo. Alikuwa kutoka mlima wa Efraimu, naye alikuwa akikaa kwa muda huko Gibea. Lakini watu wanaoishi mahali hapo walikuwa Wabenyamini.
And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at evening, who was also of mount Ephraim; and he dwelt in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.
17 Aliinua macho na kumwona msafiri katika njia kuu ya jiji. Huyo mzee akasema, “Unakwenda wapi? Unatoka wapi?”
And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Where goest thou? and where do you come from?
18 Mlawi akamwambia, “Tunaenda kutoka Betelehemu ya Yuda mpaka sehemu ya mbali zaidi ya nchi ya kilima ya Efraimu, ambako mimi hutoka. Nilikwenda Bethlehemu huko Yuda, nami nenda nyumbani mwa Bwana; lakini hakuna mtu atakayenichukua nyumbani kwake.
And he said to him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from there am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me into his house.
19 Tuna nyasi za kulisha punda zetu, na kuna mkate na divai kwa ajili yangu na mtumishi wako mwanamke hapa, na kwa kijana huyu pamoja na watumishi wako. Hatujapungukiwa chochote. '
Yet there is both straw and fodder for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.
20 Huyo mzee akawasalimu, “Amani iwe na wewe! Nitakupatia mahitaji yako yote. Usikae usiku tu katika njia kuu.”
And the old man said, Peace be with thee; however let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
21 Basi huyo mtu akamleta Mlawi nyumbani kwake, akawalisha punda. Wakaosha miguu yao na kula na kunywa.
So he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the donkeys: and they washed their feet, and ate and drank.
22 Walipokuwa wakifurahisha mioyo yao, watu wengine wa jiji, watu wasiokuwa na maana, walizunguka nyumba, wakipiga mlango. Wakamwambia yule mzee, mwenye nyumba, wakisema, “Mtoe mtu aliyeingia nyumbani kwako, ili tuweze kufanya mapenzi naye.”
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain perverted men, beset the house on all sides, and beat at the door, and spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may know him.
23 Yule mtu, mwenye nyumba, akawajia, akawaambia, “Hapana, ndugu zangu, tafadhali msifanye jambo baya! Kwa kuwa mtu huyu ni mgeni nyumbani kwangu, musifanye jambo hili baya!”
And the man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this folly.
24 Angalia, binti yangu bikira na masuria wake hawa hapa. Ngoja niwalete sasa. Wapuuze na kufanya nao chochote mnachopenda. Lakini msifanyie jambo hili mbaya kwa mtu huyu!”
Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good to you: but to this man do not so vile a thing.
25 Lakini watu hawakumsikiliza, kwa hiyo huyo mwanamume akamshika yule mwanamke, akamleta nje. Walimkamata, wakambaka, na kumtendea uovu usiku mzima, na asubuhi wakamruhusu aende.
But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth to them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
26 Asubuhi mwanamke alikuja akaanguka chini ya mlango wa nyumba ya mtu ambapo bwana wake alikuwa, na yeye akalala pale mpaka kulipokucha.
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till it was light.
27 Bwana wake akaondoka asubuhi na kufungua milango ya nyumba, akatoka kwenda njiani. Aliweza kumwona mwanamke wake amelala pale mlangoni, mikono yake ikiwa juu ya kizingiti.
And her lord rose in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine had fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.
28 Mlawi akamwambia, “Simama twende.” Lakini hakujibiwa. Alimuweka juu ya punda, na huyo mtu akaondoka nyumbani.
And he said to her, Rise, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her upon a donkey, and the man rose, and went to his place.
29 Mlawi alipofika nyumbani kwake, akachukua kisu, naye akamshika suria wake, akamkataa, mguu kwa mguu, akafanya vipande kumi na viwili, akapeleka vipande kila mahali katika Israeli.
And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the land of Israel.
30 Wote waliona hili wakasema, “Kitu hicho hakijawahi kufanyika au kuonekana tangu siku ambayo watu wa Israeli walikuja kutoka nchi ya Misri mpaka leo. Fikiria juu ya hili! Tupe ushauri! Tuambie nini cha kufanya!”
And it was so, that all that saw it said, There hath been no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came from the land of Egypt to this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.
